Oyster-tongs



W. L. MESSIGK.

Oyster-Tongs.

No. 225,155. Patented Mar. 2,1880.

@ ATTORNEY 7 N-PETERS. PHOTO'LITHQGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. MEssIcK, on CARTERS CREEK, VIRGINIA OYSTER-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,155, dated March 2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MESSIGK, of Garters Creek, in the county of Lancaster and State of Virginia, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Oyster-Tongs and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the.annexed drawings, making a partof this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of one of the arms of my improved tongs,and Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof.

This invention has relation to improvements in oyster-ton gs; and it consists, mainly, in the construction and novel arrangement of the outer clam p-bar, bent at one end to protect the end of the handle and to hold the cross-wire, and bent at the other end to form a prong, and the clips or clamps holding the tang of the tongs, the handle end, and the clamp-bar together, all as hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A represents the raking-bar of the tongs, having the teeth a and tang b, and provided with side and transverse wires 0, forming the basket or holder, in the usual manner. The tang b is designed to be seated on the inner surface of the end of the handle B, while the transverse wires of the basket are crossed on the end and outer surface of said handle in the manner shown in the drawings, the wire nearest the rakingbar being also nearest to the tang and the upper wires farther from the latter.

0 represents the clamp-bar, which is bent at its lower end to form an end protection, (1, when this bar is clamped on the outer side of the handle end. In this position the bend or arm d is pressed up closely to the handle end, and, being notched on its inside at 6, serves to receive the lower basket-wire, and at the same time to protect the end of the handle and prevent it from being rapidly worn out in the Application filed January 15, 1880.

rough work among the oysters. The upper end of the clamp-bar is also bent inward to form a prong, g, which is designed to enter the surface of the wooden handle, and thereby hold the clamp-bar against endwise movement.

D D represent the clips or clamps, which are made in yoke form, having threaded branches to receive the cross-bar E and the nuts h, by means of which the tang and clamp-bar are brought forcibly in contact, respectively, with the inner and outer surfaces of the handle end and firmly secured thereto. Notches 6, made in the long portion of the clamp-bar, serve to receive the upper basket-wires and hold them in position. This fastening enables the oystergatherer to readily and quickly detach the handle from the irons and attach thereto another handle longer or shorter, according to the depth of water in which he may be working, and, as the operation is effected Without the slightest injury or tendency to injure the ends of the handles, it is apparent that this expensive part of an oyster-gatherers outfit will last longer than where the attachment is made by bands and nails, or in the ordinary manner in use.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with the rake-head having the tang b and the Wires 0, of the clampbar 0, having the notched and bent end d, the inwardly-bent prong g, and the notches e, and the detachable clips or screw-clamps D E, whereby the rakehead can be attached or detached from the handle without injury to the latter, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. MESSIGK.

Witnesses:

' WILLIAM T. CHASE,

WILLIAM H. 0. LONG. 

